Means for charging tubular containers with materials



June 10, 1952 WEBSTER 2,599,959

MEANS FOR CHARGING TUBULAR CONTAINERS WITH MATERIALS Filed Jan. 10, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Mum/r072 Emu w M5155 TEI? E. WEBSTER 2,599,959 MEANS FOR CHARGING TUBULAR CONTAINERS WITH MATERIALS June 10, 1952 Filed Jah. 10, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Ana/v70 Emu/4x22 #418529? 5, hazy Array/vs Patented June 10, 1952 MEANS FORCHKRGING"TUBULAR CON- TAINERS 'WITH MATERIALS- Edward Webster, I Parkstone,;.Eng la.nd.

Application January 10, 1950;1Seri'atllo; massa- Im Great Britain January :11; 1949;-

11. Claims-. (C1,. 226=-2 7) Thisinvention relates toalmethodand means for charging tubular containers. :withsalves-and like liquid or plastic materials;.more especlally such materials as are. usually required: torhave a moulded form so that. they can be partially-projected fromcthe container for. use. Forexample, tubular: holders. or containers for lip. selves and other toilet salves are commomy providedwith a cup movably arranged in; thercontainenzand in this cuptheloase ofna moulded-stickot-thematerial .iS inserted; 'Ihe mouldedisticl: is. normally heused wvithin the containerand is-enclosedebyza covernntil required for use whereupon the. cover is removed and. thecup ismanipulated to project the-end. of the stick from the container.

An.- object :of the inventi'on-is to provideanrimproved manner-of charging-such containers with thesalves =01! like liquid .or plastic on powdered materials according: tov which the material. is placed in azchamber. below :which ..a number of tubular moulds are placed and, after receiving the material, are projected through. the chamber andinto 'co-axiaLrelationsh-ip: withthe'containers and caused to entertheeonta-iners whereupon air pressure isapplied. to the'b'ases .of. :the moulds to force themoulded. material therefrom into the containers-- A iurtherobject of the -irwenti1on-.is-v the provision of apparatus for carrying out the improved method of charging. such: containers with the aforesaidwmaterials; This apparatus -compris.es.a cylinder' with a piston-movingthereim thepcylinrderbeingclosed'abovathe:pistorrby-closuremeans providedrwith:aseriesof apertures through which moulds: attached. to: the.;-face of the piston can-he made; toaproiectr. A. chamber for the reception oiithe materialqto be chargedis arranged-on the closure-plateof the cylinder ina positiomabove the moulds and the moulds are-projected through the chamber as the :piston 'iSTmOYedLWithiIkithB cylinder-310a*a. chargingrstroke.-. Thepiston is provided; :withzairpassagesthrough its face leading to the =;=.inouldsssecuredithereinrand the cylinder belowrthe pistonris provided;withra plurality-cf in. lets for compressed air which is suppliedbelow the piston atterrthhzlattenhas beemmoved aforwardgonzzitsrzcharging stroke the :compressed'air their .entering rthe gbases Of the moulds. inzorder to. torcezthe .:moulded material from the moulds into the containers. The apparatus-furtherincludes a removable means above the cylinder and piston'inwhich th'egcontainerssto beicharged. can hermountemand accurately .locatediin relation :to th'e'amoulds.carriedabyz-the:-.piston;

' hapretetred: embodiment:- of: eonstzncti'omxof n Thissennularm el?" Fi-LOVGX'rflIfi order to ,exposeteri wa .numbe .of-moulns-which are carried-by: h p ston. I

n this appa atus-J n is acylinder;closedcatl he bottom: except I01: acentralopenina H a ea ing sleevefil sprov d d to.re .=eive-. is rod 13 seeuredzte.a-piston-la-whose-her pheryg moving -fit in, the cylinderl: f fneupp r l mi i the cylinderis closed. brie .cl su nl tetlfiz eeumd by' the; bolts 1| 6- andprqyidQQ-Wrth a number; f holes l1.

The p ston l4 is:..previded; ith. aznu ben openings l8 which are co-axial with the holes l'l in the closure plate 'I 5 ;-oi-- thepylinder; and the upper .f ceof th lpi t n is recessed s at J 9 around each ope i .,;|.8 tereceivethen nsedc'ba es .0 of tubular moulds. .121 The :tubllla r; *moulds i I :a-nd the'f p l' i .':|'8:: 01T TSDQnd;i ember wit cthe holes. i 7 int los re-Plate 1| 5.. The flan ed ases ofgthe mouldssl a esecured.tethenistongb 1a clamp n plate nsecur dlby numher cha tedvanced-within the cr .der: tozyth gn shown in Figure .1 themoulds: ass..-rthrough-. he said holes I] :andproiect w.ell;.beyond thezclosure plate. 0n the withdrawal.iottheniston mm the closure plate; i 5 2 towards -the-, lower;.- endlot the cylinderthe moulds.- are. withdrawniuntil; the lowermost position of the. :,-piston:the nppemends of-themoulds arefiush with thegupD-ensurfaQesM the closure. plate: 15..

Each "mould ll is open atathe end-aremoteirom the piston andhas internal,- formf. Meet .a shape:- which it is desired :to: givestoz thegmoulded materials when charged: into the containers. Eachsmouid further hasz a:fine:air:- inlet;vzi'inits .base leadingto: the-internal; form; 2 IV and below that azlargerzopeningfitswhichisdn1direchcommunication with. the openings; lflzithrcjugh-ythe pistom.

On the-:upper-face or the z closure plate 1 iiidf the cylinder an openchamiherzzlzof annulariierm is provided by securing an-j-outerlrine plate iazto the closure: plate, for example .byrthe; bolt :16 already ref.erred-'to,' and g by, a... central" circular plate-secured teth'e closure:-.plate.byscrew5ho1ts area through which the moulds are projected as the piston is moved outwardly and into this chamher the liquid or plastic material, for example lip salve for producing lip sticks, is placed when the piston and the moulds are retracted below the chamber and with the open ends of the moulds flush with the top of the closure plate l5 which forms the bottom of the chamber 21.

Above the assembly of cylinder, piston, moulds and the material-receiving chamber, a carrier plate 3| is suitably spaced by distance blocks 32, say three in number, secured to the plate by screws or the like and is located by two or more dowels 33 projecting from the ring plate 28. In this carrier plate 3! are a number of apertures 35 corresponding with the moulds 2i and co-axial therewith and an annular shallow recess 35 is formed in the plate 3! above the apertures 34. This plate 3i serves to carry a number of containers as for example a lip salve container 38 into which the salve or like material is to be charged. The containers as shown are provided with portions 31 and 38 of different diameters so that when the parts 38 are fitting the apertures 34 the larger diameter parts 31 are accommodated in the annular recess 35 and the shoulder between the parts 31 and 38 rests on the base of the recess and supports the containers in the carrier plate. Above the carrier plate 3| a removable cover plate 39 is provided which can be clamped by a milled nut 56 on a screw 4| secured in and projecting above the circular plate 2%.

It is preferred to provide a slotted washer plate 42 below the milled clamping nut 40 to apply the pressure of the nut to the cover 39 so that by releasing the nut and sliding out the slotted washer plate, the cover can readily be removed for placing or replacing the containers in the carrier plate 3].

A number of air inlets 33 are formed at equidistant points through the wall of the cylinder l and flexible pipes M are connected to these inlets 43 by suitably screwed nozzles 45, the flexible pipes communicating with any suitable source (not shown) of compressed air. The flexible supply pipes should all be of approximately the same length in addition to being evenly distributed around the cylinder with the object of efiecting a simultaneous charge into all parts of the cylinder below the openings [8 leading to the openings 26in the bases of the moulds and to the fine-air inlets 25 communicating with the internal form 24 of the moulds. The compressed air supply pipes 44 between the source of air supply and the inlets 43 of-the cylinder Hi may be coupled to a union box of well known construction (not shown) in which a two way valve may be provided so that the box can be placed either in communication with the compressed air supply source or with the atmosphere as desired. By this means the cylinder It) can be vented to atmosphere, but if 'desired a release tap 46 can be provided communicating with the interior of the cylinder.

Inoperation the cover and carrier plate are lifted from the apparatus and the piston M is retracted to its lowest position in the cylinder It so that the upper ends of the moulds 2! are flush with the upper surface of the closure plate l of 'the' cylinder and thus are at the bottom of the chamber 21. The chamber is then filled with the material and the material is run or rubbed into the open moulds to fill the internal forms thereof. The carrier plate 3! in the meantime has been filled with'containers 38 in all its openings 3 "andthis is replaced on the apparatus and the cover plate 39 is clamped into position. The piston is then advanced to project the moulds through the chamber 21 and into the co-axial containers 36.

In the example illustrated the containers 36 are for the reception of lip salve and as such are usually provided with internal cups 4'! movable in the container in known manner. The moulds enter the containers until their upper lips meet the downwardly directed lips of the cups 4! therein. Compressed air is then admitted through the flexible pipes 64 to the cylinder below the piston l4 and the air passes through the fine apertures 25 into the moulds and blows the moulded materials from the moulds into the cups.

The piston is then retracted to withdraw the moulds from the containers and into the cylinder below the bottom of the charging chamber. The cover 39 and carrier plate 3| are lifted off the apparatus and the charged containers removed from the carrier plate. The chamber 21 is recharged with filling material and another carrier plate loaded with containers is placed in position for the operation to be repeated. For the removal of the containers from the carrier plate a stripping plate such as indicated at 48 can be provided so as to lift all the containers simultaneously from the carrier plate.

It will be understood that any suitable means for moving the piston M can be provided. As compressed air must be available for the apparatus it is convenient to employ a double acting air cylinder (not shown) of known form for raising and retracting the piston. The piston rod [3 is shown of substantial diameter with a long bearing sleeve 12 to ensure its smooth and true axial movement relatively to the cylinder. Below the bearing sleeve, the rod may be provided with a connecting rod 49 of smaller diameter which is operated by the piston of the double acting air cylinder.

The illustrated arrangement allows moulds of different external and internal diameter to be used with the standard piston by exchanging the clamping plate 22 for one having appropriately sized apertures for the moulds to be placed in position. All the moulds would have a standard base fitting the recess IS in the face of the piston Hi.

It will be understood that the fine passages 25 of the moulds may vary with the capacity of the moulds. As one example of a suitable bore 25 for a mould having a parallel cylindrical cavity of a diameter of 0.375", except for a tapering or inwardly curved lower end as marked 50 in Figure 1, a dimension of 0.013" has been used. An air pressure of to lbs. to the square inch has been used, but lower pressures will 0perate satisfactorily.

The surrounding lip of the mouth of a moul may be given a slight lead to receive the lip of a cup 41 or the rim of each cup may be pressed or formed with a slight lip to receive the lip of the mould so as to facilitate the charging operation;

The improved method and means enable the containers to be charged with much less labour at greater speed and result in more uniform and accurate charging of the cups and moulding of the materials.

Iclaim:

1. An improved method of charging tubular containers with salves and like liquid or plastic materials or powdered materials in a condition capable of being moulded. according to which he moulds. zfromrthefiiled containers is; effected;

2 mproved; met od. 02; cm sing,.:;.tubu1ar ont. he s with salves and 11k 'q idorr l stlc materials. mo z pecialiy mater als r quired Q have a moulded form so that they can begpare tiallyprojected from the, containers for use. according to-which the rmaterial is placed inra chamber above a cylinder containing a piston,

ca ry n :a.=p1:u ity" i ubular moulds, a d

low a-carrier, in: which the; containers are secured in inverted position and the piston is moved up-.- wardly-to bring the moulds into co-axial relation with the containers and cause them. to enter the lower portions of the containersqwhereupon air pressure is app d :to the. cy inder andpermitted to enter themoulds through the piston inorder longitudinally .to displace th e moulded material therefrom; and charge it; into, the containers, in which charged condition of the containers the moulded material is retained against displacement in the upper ends ofthe containers and the air pressure on the material is relieved, whereupon retraction of the moulds from, the filled containers is effected to-permit removal thereof from the carrier.

3. Improved apparatus for charging containers with salves and like materials comprising a, cylinderwith a piston moving therein,- closure means for thecylinder above the piston and apertures through said closure means, co-axial aperturesin the piston-,tubular moulds arranged in the face of the piston each of said moulds having a base flange and the piston having a recess in its face co-axial with each of its apertures in which recess the base of a mould is inserted and secured by a perforated clamping plate secured to the piston, apertures in the base of the moulds communicating with the apertures in the piston, an internal formin the mould cylindrical in its upper portion. and tapering: to its lower end, a relatively fine bore between the aperture in the base of the mould and the internal form; a chamber for the reception of the materials above the closure means of the cylinder and over the said moulds in the piston when the piston is in its lowermost position, means for carrying the containers to be charged so that they are in line with the various moulds supported by the piston, means for moving the piston and the moulds towards the said carrier for the containers, means for retracting the piston and moulds, and means for admitting compressed air to the cylinder below the piston so that the air has access to the interior of the moulds, such compressed air being admitted to the moulds after the latter have been filled with material and moved by the piston so as to enter the containers, whereby the moulded materials are charged into the containers.

4. Improved apparatus for charging containers such as lip salve containers with salves and like; material comnrisingg a; cylinder;- closed: at;

the; basaaapiston within the .cylinder-;and;me u+ able, by means of; a rod mor-in in :a bearin s-place videddng the ,;closed. base. not .the; cylinden: a plus ralityetopenincs throuehvthe. p s n an tanore respondingmumher or-tubular moulds. supported by-the pistonand:communicating. with theppem ings-rthereim; a circular :cIQsureapJate Lion .the ten,

oi. the,.-cylinder and; apertures, through t'hesplata' corresponding; in; number: with. the openin s throu h the :Distonand. of. a..-si.z.e. to.-,reeeire ithamoulds supported, by the ..piston-,,, an. annular. chamber above the closures late .fOI': receiving:-

the material to be. :charged; said. chamb.er:.-he1ng;

formed-by an,-.outenring-; securedxto the. closure plate and a, eentraljcircular .zplate.--zco-axiahlwi:th the ring, the:annulargchamberrbeing positioned so that the material in it can enter the mouldsin- -;the.;apertures-;-oi- :the. =clos1n1e. plateswhen the s piston-supportingahe moulds;isdnitsriowermost position, a, carrierv ion-thecontainers: .spaoed above; the aforesaid chamber and 'havingmeans. for. supporting andlocating the containersmith their. open. ends line with thexmoulds-,,:.and

j meansforsupplyingcompressed airto thelcyIin-s:

der below the piston when-thelatter-israisedto cause, the moulds to..- enter :the 'containerswheree bmsaid. air is. appliedto the moulds to displace the-material moulded thereinso as: to. charge the containers.

5'."Impro.ved. apparatus for charging-tubular containers with ,salves and. like liquid, plastic-.01: powdered materials, .suchas lip, salve. containers. each: having 1 a. .material-receivi-ng1v cup normallydisposed at one endof' the container, comprising a receptacle for the materialssto, becharged, means. for removably-supporting .the containers in: inverted position with-the cups. uppermost, a plurality" of tubular moulds arranged co-axially with the containersnand of a:sizelto. enter the containers, each mould having a capacity-teaccommodate suflicient. material to charge a container, means for moving the moulds: into apa.- SitiIOll: wheres-the material: from the. receptacle can enter the-moulds .-.and .for advancing the moulds through the receptacle and towards and into; the respective containers to abut, against the cups, means for-enabling compressedair-to beapplied to themateri'al in the, moulds when the moulds are within thecontainerssoas. to dis.- charge material from the-moulds into. the vcontainers: where it is retained in the cups disposed above the moulds, :andJmeans for retractingsaid moulds from within.- the-containers =toa position wherathemoulds are disposed below: the re- -f ceptacle.

6. Improved apparatus for charging containers as specified in claim 5 wherein each mould has an opening in its base, a cylindrical interior leading from the upper end of the mould and tapering towards the base of the mould, and a fine internal bore communicating at one end with the opening in the base and at the other end with the tapered end of the interior or the mould.

'7. Improved apparatus for charging containers with salves and like materials comprising a piston working in a cylinder having an apertured closure plate, a material receptacle surmounting the closure plate and communicating with the apertures therein, apertures in the piston coaxial with the apertures in the closure plate, tubular moulds secured in the upper face of the piston and communicating with the apertures therein, said moulds being adapted to enter the apertures in the closure plate, means for remov ably supporting the containers in inverted position where they are above the piston and in axial alignment with the moulds, means for retracting the piston to a lowermost position in which the moulds are below the receptacle and can be filled with material from the receptacle, means for raising the piston to an uppermost position during which rising movement of the piston the moulds move through the receptacle and enter. the lower ends of the containers, and means for admitting air under pressure to the cylinder below the piston so that the compressed air has access to the interior of the moulds by way of the apertures in the closure plate and discharges material from the moulds into the containers in the upper ends of which it is retained.

8. Improved apparatus for charging containers as specified in claim 7 wherein the cylinder is provided with a number of inlet openings in the cylinder wall to which compressed air is led by a corresponding number of flexible pipes communicating with a compressed air supply, said inlet openings being so disposed in the cylinder wall that they are covered by the wall of the piston when the piston is retracted, and means for venting said cylinder to atmosphere.

9. Improved apparatus for charging containers as specified in claim 7 wherein the means removably supporting the containers in inverted position comprises a removable plate recessed in its upper surface, apertures in the recessed plate extending from the under surface thereof to the base of the recess, said apertures in the recessed plate corresponding in number and position with the apertures in said closure plate, and a removable cover plate surmounting the recessed plate and adapted to retain the containers when placed in the apertures of the recessed plate.

10. Improved apparatus for charging containers, such as lip salve containers, with salves and like materials comprising, in combination, a cylinder and piston, a carrier mounted in fixed position above the cylinder and piston for releasably supporting a plurality of containers in inverted position, an apertured closure plate at the upper end of the cylinder, a material receptacle interposed between said closure plate and carrier, said receptacle being mounted on the cylinder, apertures in the piston communicating with the apertures in the closure plate, hollow moulds supported on the piston and communicating with the apertures in the piston, said moulds being received and guided in the aper- 8 turesin the closure plate, means-for moving said piston towards or away from said closure plate, during which movement of the piston towards the closure plate the moulds enter the lower ends of the containers, a base plate at the lower end of said cylinder said base plate serving to close that end of the cylinder and act as a stop against which the piston abuts when retracted, in which retracted position of the piston the upper ends of the moulds are disposed below the receptacle and communicate therewith so that material contained in the receptacle can be loaded into the moulds, and means for supplying compressed air to the cylinder below the piston when the latter is raised to cause air under pressure to be applied to the interior of the moulds to discharge material moulded therein into the inverted containers where it is retained in the upper ends of said containers.

ii. In an apparatus of the type described for charging tubular containers with salves and like liquid, plastic or powdered materials, the combination of a receptacle for the material to be charged, said receptacle being open on top and provided with a plurality of apertures in its bottom, a first carrier adapted to be secured to said receptacle above the latter and in spaced relationship thereto, said carrier including means for supporting said containers in an inverted position and in registry with said apertures of said receptacle bottom, a second carrier reciprocable underneath said receptacle in a vertical direction, a plurality of moulds open on top and supported by said second carrier and shiftably fitting said apertures and into said containers, means to reciprocate said second carrier between a first end position in which the open ends of said moulds are flush with the inner face of said receptacle bottom, and a second position in which said moulds extend at least a substantial length into said containers, and means to apply compressed air to material in said moulds through holes in the bottom of said moulds and registering ducts in said second carrier.

EDWARD WEBSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,052,653 Crowley Feb. 11, 1913 1,697,831 Jackson Jan.'l, 1929 

